Ten top jobs that don’t require a degree

Gemma Murray

With teenagers across the land about to find out their A Level results, there’s plenty of cause for concern for pupils as well as parents.

However, even if a student doesn’t get the required qualifications to see them accepted for their chosen course at college or university, all is not lost.

Indeed, according to teen magazine future-mag.co.uk , more than half (54 per cent) of graduates say they’d think again about choosing university as the best way to find a job.

So anyone who doesn’t fancy another three years of study, can’t face the debt, or aren’t confident of getting there at all shouldn’t worry unduly. There are plenty of new routes into careers that were once the preserve of graduates.

These new opportunities are partly thanks to a rise in apprenticeships since government and business invested more this year in professional training.

Now three in four UK businesses believe more young people will choose these earn-as-you-learn routes in the next five years, according to AAT research.

Here’s a line-up of some top jobs you can do without a degree.

Solicitor

What do they do?

TV series Suits has a lot to answer for – never has law looked so sexy. In reality, solicitors advise their clients on the law, and can specialise in a host of areas, including commercial, criminal and family law, and much more.

Getting there

You can now become a solicitor by training on the job since new solicitor apprenticeships (level 7) which were approved in 2015. This isn’t an easy route – you’ll need to pass a series of tough exams. You’ll need good A levels and it can take five to six years to complete.

Lab technicians work in many areas from forensic to medical science, nuclear and more. They might set up experiments, record data, collect and analyse samples and do all the day-to-day jobs of laboratory work. Attention to detail is critical.

Getting there

Any relevant science A levels will help, and you can apply for a two year apprenticeship scheme through relevant employers.

Pay: £15,000 to £30,000 plus

Professional Services

What do they do?

A whole range, from auditing, consulting, financial advisory work, internal client services, to risk advisory and tax consulting. They’ll work with clients from a variety of industries and will develop valuable business advisory skills – even management consultancy is an option.

Getting there

Big companies such as Deloitte and PwC offer professional services higher apprenticeships which help A level students gain a range of professional qualifications.

Pay: £18,000 to £80,000 plus depending on specialism

Computer forensic analyst (cyber security)

What do they do?

Investigate and thwart cyber crime. They might work for the police or security services, or for computer security specialists and in house teams. They’ll follow and analyse electronic data, ultimately to help uncover cyber crime such as commercial espionage, theft, fraud or terrorism.

Getting there

Cyber security professionals are in high demand in both the public and private sector in the wake of high level breaches and perceived terrorism threats. And there’s a severe shortage of qualified professionals. Cyber security higher apprenticeships (level 4) are offered by major infrastructure and energy companies and – excitingly - the security services.

Pay: £20,000 to £60,000

Nuclear Engineer

What do they do?

Ensure the safe running of nuclear power station, or development of defence capability. They cover a whole range of tasks linked to nuclear power, from helping design and build new plants to monitoring radiation to planning safe disposal of nuclear waste.

Getting there

Unsurprisingly through professional training – the National Nuclear Laboratory offers apprenticeships and the ministry of Defence has a new nuclear undergraduate engineering apprenticeship. More broadly, there’s a massive national shortage of engineers and companies are pushing on-the-job training in many sectors – BAE Systems Maritime recruits nuclear apprenticeships to support the design and build of nuclear submarines.

Pay: £24,000 to £70,000

Public Relations executive

What do they do?

Masters of spin, they manage the public reputation and face of companies, brands and people. This might mean creating a public relations campaign through to writing and exploiting social media.

Getting there

Apply directly to PR companies and larger employers with an in house team for a higher level public relations apprenticeship (level 4), which could see you train up as a press officer, junior account executive or digital communications wizard.

Try volunteering and apply for an environmental conservation apprenticeship – Lantra has a list of providers.

Pay: From £18,000

Youth worker

What do they do?

Work with young people and help them develop personally and socially. They might work with local services, youth offending teams or voluntary organisations and community groups. They might help organise sports and other activities, or be involved on counselling and mentoring, or liaising with authorities.

Getting there

Many enter youth work as a volunteer or paid worker, but you can now qualify via a youth work apprenticeship.

Pay: £23,250 to £37,500

Junior 2D artist – visual effects

What do they do?

They help artists produce all the whizzy visual effects (VFX). They assist senior VFX artists and prepare the elements required for the final shots. Eventually they’ll be employed by post production companies working on commercials, television series and feature films.

Getting there

Apply for Junior VFX apprenticeships through Next Gen (applications closed for this year)

Pay from £18,000 to £50,000 once qualified

Royal Navy officer (General Entry Officer)

What do they do?

Undergo leadership training before choosing from a wide range of specialisms, from navigation to submarines, intelligence or mine warfare.

How do you get there?

If you’re an A level student, you’ll have to take aptitude and ability tests, pass a fitness test and interview before a more rigorous assessment to see if you’re capable mentally and physically. If successful, you can begin officer training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.